Waitakere coach Chris Milicich is not writing off his team's chance of a famous victory at next month's Fifa Club World Cup after watching the second leg of the Asian Champions League final in Adelaide this week.
With their 2-0 win at Hindmarsh Stadium, Japanese club Gamba Osakatook the honours 5-0 on aggregate to claim the title and automatic passage to the second round where they will play the winner of the opening match between Waitakere and Adelaide United.
"They [Adelaide] are a tidy side but nothing special," said Milicich.
"On what I saw, I would rate our chances of winning in Tokyo at 50-50. It was never going to be easy for them against Gamba Osaka.
"They had three full Japan internationals in their starting line-up and another four on the bench.
"Adelaide came flying out, lost a bit of their shape and were suddenly 2-0 down. Game over."
Pitching his team against the Wellington Phoenix in the Cue Sports Challenge today will give Milicich a good chance to judge the gap between New Zealand Football Championship teams and those, like the Phoenix and Adelaide, in the Hyundai A-League.
In NZFC action today, Auckland City make the short trip to play Waikato FC in the first game at this level at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park and YoungHeart Manawatu entertain neighbours Team Wellington. Tomorrow, in the southern derby, Otago United are at home to Canterbury United.
Whats on:
* Waitakere United v Wellington Phoenix
* Trusts Stadium, 4pm today
* Referee: Michael Hester
